President calls to recognize safe environment as basic human right

14 November 2007
Report: Jaxu

President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has called on the international community to grant universal recognition to the fact that environmental protection, preservation and security are part of an individual’s basic human rights. In his Keynote Address at this morning’s Inauguration Ceremony of “The Human Dimension of Global Climate Change” conference in Male’, the President also called for a comprehensive international treaty to guarantee this fundamental human right to millions of people across the world. He also announced that the Maldives was pressing for a debate on the link between climate change and human rights at the Human Rights Council.

Addressing the gathering of senior representatives of member countries of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and international environmental organizations, the President emphasized the need “to put people back at the heart of climate change diplomacy”. Highlighting that climate change was undoubtedly the defining issue of our time, the President urged the delegates to develop a common platform for next month’s important Bali conference. He noted that, for the Maldives and other member countries of AOSIS, environmental security was today an issue of life and death. On this note, he spoke of the death and destruction caused by the 2004 tsunami disaster and the unprecedented tidal surges experienced in the Maldives earlier this year.

“We are under no illusion that time is running out for us to ensure the survival of our future generations. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are not deprived of the opportunity to grow up and to live in a safe and protected environment”, the President said.

President Gayoom said that every human being should be able to enjoy the right to a safe and secure environment. He noted that, in spite of documented international references to a safe environment as a fundamental human right, this fact had yet to be universally recognized through international legislation and institutions.

In his Keynote Address at the conference, which was organized jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water, President Gayoom stressed the need for SIDS to consolidate their ranks, if their proposals were be taken seriously. He also spoke on the importance of strengthening co-operation among AOSIS member countries and with other influential actors on the global stage.

Recalling that the establishment of the Alliance of Small Island States, AOSIS, was catalyzed by the Male’ Declaration, which was agreed upon at the historic Small States’ Conference on Sea Level Rise in Male’ in 1989, the President said that “the birth of AOSIS marked a new era in international diplomacy for SIDS”. He attributed the global realization of the vulnerability of small states to sea-level rise and storm surges, and the resultant mobilization of efforts to seek environmental security, to the coordinated efforts of AOSIS.

The President said that AOSIS must strengthen its voice in the current climate change debate, and work out a unified position on all issues relating to climate change. He reminded that past experience proved that whenever SIDS had chosen to work in partnership, the results had been extremely positive. He noted that, with the end of the Kyoto years drawing ever closer, there was an urgent need to tackle the issue of climate change “with added impetus and resolve”.

“We must assume a leadership role in this debate. It is for us a matter of survival”, the President said. He went on to highlight that the Bali conference of next month was “a great opportunity for AOSIS to reassume its rightful role as leader rather than follower”.

In conclusion, the President said that:

“The future we seek to build is not a zero-sum game where one lifestyle is sacrificed to save another. The future we seek is one where clean energy powers sustainable development, creating new and better jobs and raising living standards across the world. The future we seek is one where biodiversity contributes to the wonders of our lives, and the proper management of natural resources provides sustained economic benefit. It is a future where scientific and technological innovation increases our mobility and builds our collective capacity. And it is a future where the promise of globalization, to share prosperity across all corners of the globe, is delivered to all humanity.”

At the Inauguration Ceremony of the Conference, the Chairman of AOSIS and Permanent Representative of Grenada to the UN, Mr. Angus Friday spoke on the importance of introducing the human dimension of climate change to complement the stands taken by AOSIS in global negotiations. He praised President Gayoom for assuming the leadership role in bringing global warming to the international community. He also noted the pivotal role of the President during the birth of AOSIS.

The welcome remarks were delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abdulla Shahid. In his remarks, the foreign minister said that the bonds of friendship and cooperation that bind the members of AOSIS together transcended borders and regions and that these bonds were woven from a common view of the world, a common understanding of national and international challenges and the common determination to work together.

The Minister of Environment, Energy and Water, Mr. Ahmed Abdulla also spoke at the Ceremony. He said President Gayoom had been such a vocal proponent of the environment that his name had now become virtually synonymous with it.

The two-day conference brings together representatives of 23 island nations and a number of organizations. The guest speakers also include prominent diplomats and academics.